Yoon Hwan, Mayor of Gyeyang District, Incheon, Responds to Surge in Complaints
"Even Hearing the Word 'Lovebug' Keeps Me Awake at Night"
"Difficult to Take Strong Action as They Are Classified as Beneficial Insects"
Recently, the area around Gyeyang Mountain in Incheon has been covered with lovebugs (red-bodied gnat flies), leading to a surge in related civil complaints. In response, Yoon Hwan, mayor of Gyeyang District, Incheon, stated, "I think the public should learn to endure a little."
During a press conference marking his third year in office at the Gyeyang District Office on July 2, Mayor Yoon said, "It is difficult to take strong action because lovebugs are beneficial insects."
On the morning of the 30th of last month, the summit of Gyeyang Mountain in Gyeyang District, Incheon, was covered with lovebugs (red-bodied gnat flies), causing inconvenience to hikers. Photo by Yonhap News
According to Gyeyang District, Incheon, there were 359 civil complaints related to lovebugs filed in the district between June 23 and June 27. In particular, after images showing lovebugs densely covering the trails of Gyeyang Mountain were posted on social media on June 28, the number of complaints increased even further. The videos showed lovebugs packed along every hiking trail and swarming in uncountable numbers near the summit.
Mayor Yoon explained, "This was a sudden occurrence this year, so there were limits to our response," adding, "With so many complaints, I couldn't sleep whenever I even heard the word 'lovebug.'" He continued, "Since lovebugs are beneficial insects and help improve the soil, we could not respond aggressively. If we had carried out extermination measures and wiped them out, we would have faced tremendous protests from environmental groups."
The appearance of lovebugs on Gyeyang Mountain in Incheon on the 28th of last month. Instagram @kimlark34
Mayor Yoon stated, "Because lovebugs are insects that do not cause harm, I don't think aggressive pest control is a good approach. However, I believe it is the role of the local government to ensure that citizens are not inconvenienced or bothered by unpleasant odors."
Experts report that lovebugs do not bite humans or transmit harmful bacteria. Instead, their larvae decompose fallen leaves and organic matter in the soil, making it more fertile, while the adult insects assist bees and flowers with pollination, thus playing a positive role in the ecosystem.
However, because lovebugs tend to swarm and fly toward people, most citizens perceive them as pests due to the discomfort they cause. In response, the district office is currently removing dead lovebugs from stairways and spraying water to drive away those clinging to fences. In addition, sticky traps, which are difficult for insects to escape once attached, have been installed at various points on the summit. These pest control measures will continue until the end of this month.
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